It may not seem logical to decide before conception even occurs whether or not you want to give birth at home or at a hospital, but depending on your decision, the amount of finances it will take and your insurance, deciding right now is perfectly fine. You can never be too prepared for your pregnancy even before it happens. Here’s some food for thought…
Pregnant women have many different choices these days from deciding whether to breast or bottle feed, cloth or disposable diapers and where to give birth. Since the beginning of time women have given birth in an array of places - at home, in the fields, on a river bank, and more recently add to that - vehicles, birthing centers and hospitals. The fact is - if you are pregnant - you have a choice as to where to give birth - nature will take its own time and the birth will happen regardless, where you choose is ultimately up to you.
HOME BIRTHS
With the advance in medical technology and the training of midwives - be it direct-entry midwives or CNM - certified nurse midwives - the chances of having a safe home birth are very high. Most all midwives work with an established doctor who is there should an emergency arise.
Nowadays, the qualifications for a woman to have a home birth have broadened. Even women with previous cesareans who are good candidates for VBAC - vaginal birth after cesarean - can attempt a home birth. Some of the reasons against home births would be high blood pressure - be it pregnancy-induced or maternal, diabetes, ill mother or fetus, placenta abruption or previa, or a complication from a previous birth that could hinder the current birth.
Advantages of a home birth are numerous.
1. The midwife will usually be with the laboring mother the entire time - not just show up to “catch” the baby.
2. The laboring mom is allowed time and freedom of movement.
3. She can eat and drink at will.
4. She can deliver in any position she wants - including water birth.
5. The baby will be with mom immediately after the birth and bonding and breastfeeding will not be delayed.
6. No medical intervention - such as IVs and constant fetal monitoring.
7. Cost is considerably less than that of a hospital birth.
Disadvantages of home birth
1. Should a problem arise - there is danger to the mother and baby - such as uterine rupture (though this is very rare), placenta abrupto (tearing away of the placenta from the uterine wall), prolapsed umbilical cord or distressed fetus. Note - some of these occurrences are rare and should they occur an emergency trip to the hospital becomes necessary. Should they arise the extra time it takes to get to a hospital could be detrimental to either the mother or the baby or both.
